Marine Electronics

When Savvy Navvy navigation app asked me to review the app and share my impressions, I was curious enough to do a little background...

In “Lithium Batteries for Small Boats” we looked at some of the less frequently discussed differences between lead acid and LiFePO4 batteries. In “Lithium...

This article focuses on sailboat LiFePO4 battery installations and the equipment and wiring changes we need to make to the electrical system in order...

So, you’ve finally purchased that new (or new-to-you) boat of your dreams. Now is a great time to familiarize yourself with its systems—a good...

We are now all familiar with the primary advantages (life expectancy, weight, usable capacity etc.) of lithium iron phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries. What is absent,...

The Vakaros Atlas 2 sailing instrument is making waves in the sailing community. It bridges the gap between high-performance racing technology and practical cruising...

Although there are only a limited number of mainstream chartplotter manufacturers in the North American market, the model lines within each company are dazzling,...

Today, there are many ways to stay connected from almost anywhere in the world, even in the middle of our vast oceans, thanks to...

Running the wires for new electronics requires your best cursing vocabulary, lots of sweat, twisting body contortions, luck, and the occasional bandage. For tips on how to make this job easier, we turned to PS contributor Bill Bishop. A professional marine-electronics installer, Bishop has many ingenious ways to thread a wire from point A to point B.

Connecting two standard-size wires is pretty straightforward: Grab a ratchet crimper, adjust it to fit the crimp connector, strip the two wires to fit into the butt connector, slide the wires into the connector, and squeeze the crimper. The required materials are readily available: butt connectors for inline splices, ring connectors for terminal blocks, and a dab of anti-corrosive grease for the bolts and rings. Done right, these connections can survive some extremely tough conditions. In a recent test of anti-corrosion greases and connections, we demonstrated how these connections can last up to five years in the worst bilge conditions.